Takamikura

The Takamikura (高御座) is the ceremonial seat of the Emperor of Japan, used most notably at the enthronement ceremony and, historically, at other major court ceremonies such as chōga, the formal New Year's audience. The Japanese term Takamikura is commonly rendered in English as "imperial throne", but it does not denote only the chair or other seat on which the emperor sits. Since antiquity, the Takamikura has been organized around a raised platform for the emperor's seat, together with architectural and textile elements such as pillars, curtains and a canopy. The seat itself took various forms depending on period and ceremony, including floor-level seating, a daishōji (a low, bench-like platform), and an imperial chair (go-ishi). Scholars have debated whether, in antiquity, the pillars, canopy and other elements above the platform were normally kept in place or assembled for individual ceremonies.

In ancient Japan, the Takamikura was erected in major ceremonial halls of the imperial palace complex, including the Daigokuden (Great Hall of State) and the Burakuden, the principal hall of the Buraku-in. It was used for state ceremonies including enthronements, New Year's audiences, and sechie (formal court assemblies and banquets). The enthronement proclamation of Emperor Monmu, issued on the 17th day of the eighth month of 697, contains the expression Amatsu hitsugi takamikura no waza (天津日嗣高御座之業). After the Daigokuden of the Heian Palace was destroyed by fire in 1177, the Takamikura was set up on a reduced scale at other locations, including the Shishinden in the inner palace (dairi) and the government compound of the Daijō-kan (Council of State). From the later medieval period onward, imperial enthronements were held in the Shishinden of the imperial residence in Kyoto.